THE younger generation in Bolton gave the nation hope for the future as they gathered with members of the community to remember and celebrate the life of MP Jo Cox.

Children at Moorgate Primary staged a special event for the Great Get Together — a national initiative in memory of the MP who was murdered last year — to which members of the community were invited.

The school in Tonge Moor staged a special luncheon and entertainment funded by Ambitions for Ageing, which gave a grant of £791.

In the run up to the event, older children wrote moving poems which gave hope for the future.

The poems were on display for visitors as the generation gap was bridged in the summer sunshine.

Poems included the lines: "We may be different, no need for tears. And we will change it with cheers"; "Joy and love brings us together, Manchester forever and ever, Never should we live in fear, This is now why we are here."

Headteacher, Debbie Hopwood said: "Moorgate felt it was very important to come together as a community to remind ourselves that in the light of the tragic events over the past 12 months, we need to remember that, as Jo Cox said: 'There is more that unites us than divides us'.”

She added: "We would like to thank Ambitions for Ageing who funded the event for school. In their learning children heard about forgiveness in the Bible and through a quote from Buddha. They also found about about the history of the IRA and about relative of a victim met with one of the IRA leaders to offer forgiveness. They also discussed Nazi/Neo Nazi followers then moved onto what happened to Jo Cox and the fact that by promoting the Great Get Together events, her husband has brought people together, instead of dividing them as her murder was meant to do. The class spoke about how singer Ariana Grande brought everyone together after the Manchester bombing."

Pupil, Jensen Connolly said: "I feel upset and angry about what has been happening throughout England these past months.

"I think that people should stick together and forget their differences at this time."

Jessica Greenshields said: "I don’t like the terrible things that are happening because it’s taking innocent people’s lives."

Oliver Pennington added: "I am very sad about the event, so I wrote this poem to show that everyone can have their own say."

Ambitions for Ageing promotes activities for the over 50s in the Tonge with the Haulgh, Crompton and Halliwell wards. The organisation has contributed to the building of the school's new intergenerational garden at the school.